Abstract: Aliphatic carbon-carbon bond activation by a transition metal complex is a very challenging reaction. The competing and often more preferred carbon-hydrogen bond activation often prevails due the occurrence of  statistically more abundant carbon-hydrogen bonds. In this seminar, the cleavage of the weaker and more shielded aliphatic carbon-carbon bonds in a variety of organic substrates by rhodium porphyrin radicals will be presented. In other words, the microsurgery of chemical bonds by metalloradical will
be presented.

CV of Prof. Kin Shing CHAN
EDUCATION
1981 B.Sc. University of Hong Kong
1986 Ph.D. University of Chicago
APPOINTMENTS
Since 2002 Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1996-2002 Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, The Chinese University of Hong
Kong
1990-1996 Lecturer, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1989-1990 Associate Professor, National Taiwan University
1986-1989 Research Associate, University of Chicago
RESEARCH INTEREST
1. Carbon-carbon bond activation by transition metal complexes
2. Carbon-hydrogen bond activation by transition metal complexes
3. Green Chemistry
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
1. L. Zhang, C. W. Fung, K. S. Chan
“Mechanistic Studies of Si-N and C-N Bond Activation of Silylnitriles and Alkyl
Isonitriles by Rhodium Porphyrin Radical: Novel Cyanide Transfer”
Organometallics 2006, 25, 5381-5389.
2. K. S. Chan, X. Z. Li, C. W. Fung, L. Zhang
“Aliphatic Carbon-Carbon Activation of Nitriles by Rhodium(II) Porphyrin”
Organometallics 2007, 26, 20-21.
3. L. Zhang, K. S. Chan
“Reactivity Studies of Rhodium Porphyrin Radical with Diazo Compounds”
Organometalllics 2007, 26, 679-684.
4. X. Song, K. S. Chan
“Syntheses of Acyl Iridium Porphyrins by Aldehydic Carbon-Hydrogen Bond
Activation with Ir(III) Porphyrin Chloride and Methyl”
Organometallics 2007, 26, 965-970.
5. K. S. Chan, P. F. Chiu, K. S. Choi
“Base Promoted Selective Activation of Benzylic Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds of
Toluenes by Rhodium(III) Porphyrins”
Organometallics 2007, 26, 1117-1119.
6. L. Zhang, K. S. Chan
“Activation of Aliphatic Carbon-Carbon Bonds of Esters and Amides by Rhodium(II)
Porphyrin”
J. Organomet. Chem. 2007, 692, 2021–2027.
7. K. S. Chan, C. M. Lau, S. K. Yeung, T. H. Lai
“Activation of Aldehydic Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds in Aerobic Conditions by Masked
Rhodium(III) Porphyrin Cation”
Organometallics 2007, 26, 1981-1985.
8. K. S. Chan, X. Z. Li, C. W. Fung, L. Zhang
“Metalloradical Activations of Aliphatic Carbon-Carbon Bonds of Nitriles: Scope and
Mechanism “
Organometallics 2007, 26, 2679-2687.
9. K. S. Chan, K. W. Mak, M. K. Tse, S. K. Yeung, B. Li, Y. W. Chan
“Reactions of nitroxides with metalloporphyrin alkyls bearing beta hydrogens:
Aliphatic carbon–carbon bond activation by metal centered radicals”
J. Organomet. Chem. 2008, 693, 399–407.
10. K. S. Chan, L. X. Zhu Li, W. I. Dzik, B. de Bruin,
“Carbon-Carbon Bond Activation of TEMPO by a RhII Metallo-Radical: A Combined
Experimental and Theoretical Study”
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 2051-2061.